Eterna and Omega by Leanna Renee Hieber

Synopsis:Battle is joined as British and American paranormal investigators clash in an exciting gaslamp fantasy.
Leanna Renee Hieber’s gaslamp fantasy series continues and the action ramps up in Eterna and Omega.

In New York City, fearing the dangers of the Eterna Compound–supposedly the key to immortality–Clara Templeton buries information vital to its creation. The ghost of her clandestine lover is desperate to tell her she is wrong, but though she is a clairvoyant, she cannot hear him.

In London, Harold Spire plans to send his team of assassins, magicians, mediums, and other rogue talents to New York City, in an attempt to obtain Eterna for Her Royal Majesty, Queen Victoria. He stays behind to help Scotland Yard track down a network of body snatchers and occultists, but he’ll miss his second-in-command, Rose Everhart, whose gentle exterior masks a steel spine.

Rose’s skepticism about the supernatural has been shattered since she joined Spire’s Omega Branch. Meeting Clara is like looking into a strange mirror: both women are orphans, each is concealing a paranormal ability, and each has a powerful and attractive guardian who has secrets of his own.

The hidden occult power that menaces both England and America continues to grow. Far from being dangerous, Eterna may hold the key to humanity’s salvation.

Review: I had a little trouble with the first volume even if I enjoyed the ideas of the author. I was therefore curious to find out what this second volume would introduce us.

We find of course, all the characters that we had previously discovered, set in New York and England and prepared to be in a new adventure that will bring them together afterwards. As in the previous volume, I loved to follow Clara and to discover the rest of her history with Louis. It is true that it is interesting to see how much Louis wants to help his former lover, trying to break the barriers between the living and the dead world. This novel presents us a nice mix of ghosts, conspiracies, demons and other creatures. It was interesting to see how the characters were going to handle all these new changes.

By cons it is true that I found myself once again with the same feeling somewhat mitigated while struggling to get into the story and I had a little trouble placing the different characters as we have many. It’s true that this is something that bothers me often as the number of characters loses me easily.

Yes, the universe is very interesting and it is true that the mixture with the Victorian era is worth it but even if the story and style are very interesting, I think I still have a little trouble with this series…

I love the sound of these books and actually have both but I’m struggling to get into the first book, despite the fact I like the world. The characters have yet to grab a hold of me. I’m glad you finished and enjoyed learning more Clara and Louis.

I never read the first book, but I do recall the review of it from you. I’m sorry the many characters don’t work for you, it seems a bit scattered to be honest and I’d probably find myself in the same position.

I thought the first book was all right, and now I am in the middle debating whether or not I should try out this sequel. I had hoped for a more glowing review from you which would help in my decision, but sounds like you are as on the fence as I am 😀